Shelf assembly for a refrigerator compartment

ABSTRACT

A vertically step-adjustable shelf includes a panel of tempered glass and two open frames. A pair of metal shelf brackets can be staked to the frames to provide vertical step-adjustment of the shelf. The vertically step-adjustable shelf can be further simplified by eliminating one of the open frame members and staking the metal shelf brackets to side frame portions of but a single outer/uppermost open frame member. In each of the shelves various components utilized in the assembly thereof, such as stake projections, heads and openings are hidden from view when the shelves are in their horizontal in-use position. Hence, each shelf presents a highly desirable aesthetic appearance, yet is strong and can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 11/029,347filed on Jan. 6, 2005 and entitled SHELF ASSEMBLY FOR A REFRIGERATORCOMPARTMENT and now patent Ser. No. ______.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adjustable shelves are conventionally associated with both the freezercompartment and the fresh food compartment of conventionalrefrigerators. Such shelves or shelf assemblies are normally constructedas cantilevered step-adjustable shelving or as a slidable shelf whichslides along channels or ledges in opposite side walls of the freezer orfresh food compartment. Typical of such shelves and shelving, bothsliding and cantilevered, are disclosed in the following patents.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,119,982 issued to Ohnstrand discloses a glass slab 3which sits upon “a filler 7 of suitable material, as cement” (page 1,lines 52-53). A ledge 1 of an annular frame or “truss flange 2” (page 1,line 40) supports the entire shelf. The glass slab 3 is basically“dropped-in” from above.

In lieu of bonding a piece of glass to a frame, several patents toBienick (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,422,673 and 6,679,573) provide a sliding shelfin which a piece of tempered glass is snapped-fit into a substantiallypolygonal plastic frame. The latter is an innovation which excludes theutilization of separately applied adhesive and does not include completerim encapsulation, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,362,145; 5,429,433and 5,524,981, each of which are assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication. The latter three patents require sophisticated moldingtechniques because a pair of metal shelf brackets and a piece oftempered glass are held accurately during the closing of an injectionmold and thereafter polymeric/copolymeric material is injected into themold creating a rim or encapsulation which holds the shelf brackets tothe piece of tempered glass. Thus, glass-to-frame bonding, snap-fitting,encapsulation and the like are all quite commonplace whether theshelving assembly is slidable or can be vertically adjusted through theutilization of conventional refrigerator compartment trackways.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,236 in the name of Randall discloses a shelf havinga rim in which an edge of a piece of tempered glass is inserted,followed by the insertion of a plurality of wedge members which aredriven or forced into a notch or groove which receives the edge of glassto retain the latter components assembled.

Numerous other patents disclose frames made of a single piece of plasticmaterial, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,983 to Whitcomb; individual framemembers, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,260 granted to Poulsen; extrudedrims, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,574 in the name of Avendano; andmulti-piece reinforced frames, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,308 in the nameof Donaghy.

The shelves of the latter patents and patents listed in U.S. Pat. No.6,422,673 fairly reflect the scope and content of the prior art as awhole in the field of shelving, particularly shelving or shelfassemblies utilized in refrigerators, be they sliding shelves orvertically step-adjustable shelves.

The particular shelf which is selected for a particular refrigeratordepends upon numerous factors, primarily among which is price.Obviously, for so-called top-of-the-line refrigerators, more expensive,durable, aesthetic, etc. shelving is generally utilized, and the bestshelving for the best and/or most expensive refrigerators is theencapsulated shelving manufactured by the assignee of the presentapplication, and is reflected in such patents as U.S. Pat. Nos.5,524,981; 5,362,145; 5,429,433; etc. Such encapsulated shelving,whether sliding shelves or vertically adjustable shelves, are theso-called “Cadillac” of the industry and are utilized in most of themore expensive refrigerators found in the marketplace. As totalwholesale/retail prices become more competitive, particularly towardmid-line and lower cost refrigerators, more expensive shelves, such asencapsulated shelves, can prove competitively disadvantageous,irrespective of the quality of the products and the aesthetics thereof.Because of the latter, the shelves of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,422,673 and6,679,573 were developed because they provide excellent aesthetics at alesser price without adversely effecting functionality. However, theoptimum shelf or shelf assembly would be a combination of maximumfunctionality, highest aesthetics and lowest price. In an effort towardachieving the latter, the present invention provides each of the latterthree objectives at as low a cost of manufacture as is possible.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel shelf assembly or shelf is constructed in accordance with thepresent invention from but a single panel of tempered glass and twoplastic frame members in the case of a sliding shelf and from a singlepiece of tempered glass, a single frame member, and two support bracketsin the case of a vertically step-adjustable shelf or shelf assembly. Inboth cases, adhesive is not required and in lieu thereof, the componentsof the shelves, whether sliding or vertically step-adjustable, areprovided with a plurality of inter-engageable stake projections andstake projection openings. When appropriately assembled, axial endportions of the stake projections are upset or staked to form enlargedheads which unitize the shelf frames to the tempered glass panel or apair of shelf brackets, a single shelf frame and the tempered glasspanel to each other in manufacturing sliding and verticallystep-adjustable shelving, respectively.

In further accordance with the present invention, both in the case of asliding shelf and a vertically step-adjusting shelf, twopolymeric/copolymeric plastic frames are utilized and arestake-assembled to each other to impart additionalstrength/reinforcement to the shelf assemblies.

In accordance with the present invention, in the case of a shelfassembly made of a single piece of tempered glass and two frame members,one of the frame members is provided with stake projections and theother frame member is provided with openings for receipt therein of thestake projections. A peripheral edge of the tempered glass panel issandwiched between the two frame members and upon staking of the axialends of the stake projections, the three components of the shelf aresecurely and rigidly assembled to each other absent the addition ofadhesive, bonding material, sealants or the like.

In the case of a vertically step-adjustable shelf, preferably at leastone of a pair of frame members includes depending vertical flanges whichcarry stake projections which are inserted into and through openings ofshelf brackets and are thereafter staked or headed to retain the shelfcomponents in a rigid, unitized, aesthetic shelf assembly.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front top perspective view of a novel shelf or shelf assemblyconstructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a pair ofmetal shelf brackets each having a pair of hooks, a tempered glasspanel, and two generally polygonal open frame members collectivelydefining a rim bordering the glass panel of the shelf.

FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the underside ofthe shelf assembly of FIG. 1, and from bottom to top illustrates anupper/outer polygonal open frame member, the tempered glass panel, alower/inner polygonal open frame member and the pair of shelf bracketsprior to assembly of the components.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the shelf assembly of FIG. 2partially assembled, and illustrates a peripheral edge of the temperedglass panel sandwiched between the upper and lower polygonal open framemembers with stake projections of the upper outermost open frame memberbeing each received in a stake projection opening of the lower innermostopen frame member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shelf assembly of FIG. 3, andillustrates stake projection openings of the metal shelf bracketsreceiving stake projections of side frame portions of the upper openframe member.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the shelf assembly of FIG. 4, andillustrates axial ends of the stake projections being staked or enlargedto retain the components of the shelf assembly in assembledrelationship.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 6-6 of FIG. 4, and illustrates the generally L-shapedtransverse cross-sectional configuration of side frame portions of theinner and outer open frame members and the metal shelf bracket; alocating member or tongue of the outer frame member snap-secured in alocating opening of the inner open frame member; a stake projection ofthe outer frame member projecting through a stake projection opening ofthe shelf bracket, and a horizontal flange of the shelf bracket engagedbeneath a generally inverted L-shaped locating portion or leg of theinner open frame member with the peripheral edge of the tempered glasspanel being sandwiched between horizontal flanges of the inner and outeropen frame member side portions.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 7-7 of FIG. 5, and illustrates the identical componentsdescribed with respect to FIG. 6 and additionally illustrating an axialterminal end portion of the stake projection being staked into anenlarged staked head to retain the shelf components in assembledrelationship.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 8-8 of FIG. 5, and illustrates a plurality of stakeprojections having enlarged stake heads disposed along a rear frameportion of the shelf assembly with axes thereof substantially normal tothe axes of the stake projections of vertical flanges of the outer framemember side portions.

FIG. 9 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of another shelfassembly, specifically a sliding shelf, and illustrates a pair ofgenerally polygonal open upper and lower frame members and a polygonaltempered glass panel prior to being unitized, a plurality of abutmentbars for locating the tempered glass panel relative to the upper openframe member, upwardly projecting stake projections of the latter, andstake projection openings of the lower open frame member associatedtherewith.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the sliding shelf or sliding shelfassembly of FIG. 9, and illustrates the components staked together inassembled relationship.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 11-11 of FIG. 10, and illustrates the manner in which aperipheral edge of the polygonal tempered glass panel is sandwichedbetween horizontal flanges of the upper/outer and lower/inner open framemembers which are in turn held together by one of a plurality of stakeprojections each received through a stake projection opening andretained therein by an enlarged/staked head.

FIG. 12 is a front fragmentary perspective view of a refrigeratorincluding one of a pair of side-by-side compartments thereof, andillustrates the shelves of FIGS. 1 and 10 assembled respectively to apair of slotted vertical trackways and slidable upon opposite side wallledges.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line3-3 of FIG. 12, and illustrates the manner in which a lower surface of avertical flange of a side frame portion of the outer open frame memberslides upon an upper surface of one of the refrigerator compartmentledges.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of another step-adjustable shelf orshelf assembly constructed in accordance with this invention, andillustrates an upper/outer generally polygonal open frame member, asubstantially polygonal tempered glass panel, and a pair of metal shelfbrackets which are collectively held in assembled relationship by aplurality of stake projections of the open frame member housed in stakeprojection openings of the metal shelf brackets and having at axial endsthereof enlarged staked heads.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 15-15 of FIG. 14, and illustrates the components of FIG. 14in more detail, including one of the staked projections projectingthrough the stake projection opening and an enlarged staked head of thestake projection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A novel shelf or shelf assembly constructed in accordance with thisinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings and isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 10. The shelf or shelfassembly 10 is designed for vertical step-adjustment with respect to aconventional pair of substantially vertically disposed slotted tracksT1, T2 (FIG. 12) in a freezer and/or fresh food compartment C of aconventional refrigerator R which also includes opposite horizontallyaligned and vertically spaced pairs of ledges L1, L2 in respective sidewalls S1, S2 of the compartment C for slidably accommodating anothershelf 10′ of the invention which will be fully described hereinafter.

The shelf assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 through 8 and 12 is defined by a pairof substantially polygonal open polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plasticmaterial frame members, including an upper, uppermost, outer oroutermost substantially continuous polygonal open frame member or border11 and an inner, innermost, lower or lowermost substantially polygonalcontinuous open frame member or border 31. The shelf assembly 10 furtherincludes a substantially polygonal tempered glass panel or piece ofglass 50 and a pair of substantially identical metal shelf brackets orshelf supporting brackets 70, 70.

The outer open frame member 11 includes an outermost substantiallycontinuous border surface (unnumbered) and an inner polygonal peripheraledge 12 defining a substantially polygonal opening 13; a pair ofsubstantially parallel side frame member portions 14, 15; a front framemember portion 16 having a forwardly and downwardly curved fingergripping wall portion 19 and a rear frame member portion 17 which issubstantially parallel to the front frame member portion 16.

The side frame member portions 14, 15 each include a horizontal flange18 and, as viewed in FIG. 1, a downwardly directed vertical flange 20with the horizontal flanges 18, 18 of the side frame member portions 14,15 being substantially in opposing relationship to each other.

Each horizontal flange 18, 18 of the side frame member portions 14, 15carries means in the form of locating ribs or bars 21 which are alsoprovided along the flanges 18, 18 continuing along the front framemember portion 16 and the rear frame member portion 17. The locatingribs, bars or abutments 21 set-off a peripheral dimension whichcorresponds substantially to a peripheral edge 51 of the tempered glasspanel 50. This enables the glass panel 50 to be “dropped-in” insertedinto the upper open frame member 11 from the position shown in FIG. 2 tothe position evident from FIG. 3 in which the glass panel 50 isaccurately located within and closes the opening 13 of the outer framemember 11.

The vertical flanges 20, 20 of the side frame member portions 14, 15each include four inwardly directed opposing locating/latching tabs ortongues 22 which are each received in and are snap-secured to anassociated locating opening 32 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 7) in a vertical flange38 of the lower/inner open frame member 31. Inasmuch as the tongues 22are aligned with the openings 32 (FIG. 2), the lower open frame member31 need but be moved downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2 intothe upper/outer open frame member 11 and the tongues 22 each snaps intoone of the openings 32 during the outward deflection and subsequentinward rebound of the vertical flanges 20 of the side frame memberportions 14, 15.

The outer open frame member 11 also includes four stake projections 25along the front frame member portion 16, the rear frame member portion17 and three stake projections 25 along each of the vertical flanges 20of the side frame member portions 14, 15. The stake projections 25 ofthe side frame member portions 14, 15 are in axially aligned opposingrelationship to each other and axes (unnumbered) thereof aresubstantially normal to the axes of the stake projections 25 of thefront and rear frame member portions 16, 17, respectively.

The inner/lower substantially open frame member 31 defines an outermostsubstantially continuous border surface (unnumbered) and similarlyincludes an inner peripheral edge (unnumbered) corresponding in size tothe inner peripheral edge 12 of the outer frame member 11 which definesand borders a substantially polygonal opening 33. The inner open framemember 31 includes substantially parallel spaced side frame membersportions 34, 35, a front frame member portion 36 and a rear frame memberportion 37 which are oriented for aligned assembly with the respectiveframe member portions 14 through 17 of the outer open frame member 11.

Each of the side frame member portions 34, 35 is of a generally L-shapedtransverse cross-sectional configuration (FIGS. 6 through 8) and isdefined by the vertical depending flange 38 and a horizontal flange 40with the horizontal flanges 40 being disposed in opposing alignedrelationship. The horizontal flanges 40 carry four substantiallyidentical L-shaped locating and retaining legs, noses or feet 41 whoseends 42 (FIG. 6) are spaced above the respective horizontal flanges 40and define therewith a locating or retaining channel 43 for a horizontalflange 73 each of the respective shelf brackets 70, as will be moreapparent hereinafter. Each of the vertical flanges 38 of the side framemember portions 34, 35 includes four of the locating openings or slots32 heretofore described, and above three of the four locating openings32 in each flange 38 is an upwardly opening slot 45, as viewed in FIG.2. The slots 45 of the vertical flanges 38 of the side frame memberportions 34, 35 are aligned with each other and are each aligned with astake projection receiving opening or stake projection opening 71 in avertical flange 72 of each metal shelf bracket 70 which also includesthe horizontal flanges 73 disposed in aligned opposing relationship witheach other and a pair of hooks 75. The notches or slots 45 each receiveor accommodate one of the stake projections 25 projecting inwardly fromthe vertical flanges 20 of the side frame member portions 14, 15, as isreadily apparent in FIG. 3. In the partially assembled condition of theshelf 10 in FIG. 3, the stake projections 25 of the front frame memberportion 16 and the rear frame member portion 17 of the outer frame 11project into and through stake projections openings 39 of the respectivefront frame member portion 36 and rear frame member portion 37 of theinner or lower open frame member 31. The stake projections 25 of theside frame member portions 14, 15 of the outer frame member 11 eachproject through one of the notches 45 in the vertical flanges 38 of theside frame member portions 34, 35 of the lower frame member 31 and alsopass through the stake projection receiving openings 71 of the shelfbrackets 20 (FIG. 4), as will be immediately described hereinafter.Thus, fourteen terminal axial ends (unnumbered) of the stake projections25, of which eleven are illustrated in FIG. 3, are accessible forsubsequent staking or enlarging under heat and pressure deformation, aswill be described hereinafter.

After the partial assembly of the shelf assembly 10 illustrated in FIG.3 is completed, each of the shelf brackets 70 is either slid fromleft-to-right, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, to insert each shelf bracket70 in the position shown in FIG. 4 in which the stake projections 25 ofthe vertical flanges 20 of the side frame member portions 14, 15 projectthrough the stake openings 71 of the shelf brackets 70 while eachhorizontal flange 73 is engaged beneath an associated leg 42 (FIG. 6)and within the channel 43 formed thereby of each locating member 41.

In lieu of sliding the metal shelf bracket 70, 70 from left-to-right inthe manner just described with respect to FIG. 3, the shelf brackets 20can be instead positioned substantially as shown in FIG. 2 inside-by-side relationship to the side frame member portions 14, 34; 15,35 of FIG. 3. The horizontal flanges 73 are then merely slid under thelegs or noses 41 of the locating members 41 which temporarily causes thevertical flanges 20 to deflect outwardly but subsequently rebound to theassembled position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

After the total assembly of the shelf or shelf assembly 10 of FIG. 4,the exposed axial ends (unnumbered) of each of the fourteen stakeprojections 25 are simultaneously staked in a conventional manner underthe application of heat and pressure resulting in the deformation of theplastic material and the formation of enlarged heads or staked heads 60which maintain and retain the components of the shelf 10 rigidlyassembled. The shelf or shelf assembly 10 can thereafter be utilized inthe compartment C (FIG. 12) of the refrigerator R by hooking the hooks75 of the shelf brackets 70 in any selected horizontally aligned pair ofthe slots (unnumbered) in the trackways T1, T2 to afford step-adjustmentof the shelf 10 in the compart C in a conventional manner.

The shelf or shelf assembly 10′ earlier alluded to is illustrated inFIGS. 9 through 11 of the drawings and has primed reference numeralsapplied thereto to identify structure which corresponds substantiallyidentically to structure heretofore described with respect to the shelfor shelf assembly 10. However, the major difference between the twoshelves 10, 10′ resides in the fact that the shelf 10 includes the twometal shelf brackets 70, 70 for achieving the step-adjustment heretoforedescribed, whereas the shelf 10′ excludes such metal shelf brackets andis formed as a sliding shelf defined by three components, namely, a pairof substantially polygonal open polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plasticmaterial frame member, including an upper, uppermost, outer or outermostopen frame member 11′ and an inner, innermost, lower or lowermostsubstantially polygonal open frame member 31′. The shelf assembly 10′further includes a substantially polygonal tempered glass panel or pieceof glass 50′ having a peripheral polygonal edge 51′

The outer open frame member 11′ includes sixteen upwardly directed stakeprojections 25′ having axes substantially in parallel relationship toeach other with each stake projection 25′ being aligned forinter-engagement into and with stake projection receiving openings orstake projection openings 39′ of the inner lower open frame member 31′(FIG. 9).

As in the case of the assembly of the shelf 10 described with respect toFIGS. 2 through 4, the sliding shelf 10′ is assembled in a similarmanner by the drop-in insertion or placement of the tempered glass panel50′ into the upper open frame member 11′ with the accurate locationthereof being assured by the locating ribs 21′. Thereafter, the loweropen frame member 31′ is moved downwardly from the position shown inFIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10 at which axial end portions(unnumbered) of each of the upwardly directed stake projections projectinto and through the stake projection openings 39′ and with theperipheral edge 51′ of the tempered glass panel 50′ being sandwichedbetween the flanges 18′, 40′ of the respective open frame members 11′,31′. As is best illustrated in FIG. 11, the vertical downwardly directedflange 38′ of the lower open frame member 31′ extends about the entireouter periphery of the lower open frame member 31′ and bears against aninner surface (unnumbered) of the horizontal flange 18′ of theouter/upper open frame member 11′. Thus, the peripheral vertical flange38′ reinforces the entire periphery of the lower open frame member 31′to prevent the same from distorting under the application of heat andpressure when the axial end of each stake projection 25′ is staked underheated pressure to form the enlarged staked head(s) 60′ thereof (FIG.11). The sixteen staked projections 25′ including the stake/enlargedheads 60′ thereof maintain the sliding shelf 10′ in rigid assembledrelationship for its use in association with the ledges L1, L2 of therefrigerator compartment C (FIG. 12) in a conventional manner. It is tobe particularly noted from FIG. 13 that each depending vertical flange20′ of the side frame member portions 14′, 15′ has a lowermost surface65 which rides along the ledges L1, L2 and supports the shelf 10′ in amanner such that the enlarged staked heads 60′ are spaced well above anddo not slide along upper surfaces (unnumbered) of the ledges L1, L2.This prevents the enlarged staked heads 60′ from being worn under theinfluence of constant sliding friction during the use of the shelf 10′,particularly under the load of articles positioned thereupon. Because ofthe absence of wear with respect to the enlarged staked heads 60′, thelongevity of the shelf 10′ is enhanced and increased. It is also to beparticularly noted that from an aesthetic standpoint, none of the stakeprojections 25, 25′ or for that matter the locking members or tongues22, legs 41 or the openings 32 are visible from above when the shelves10, 10′ are in use (FIG. 12). In other words, the uppermost/outermostsurface (unnumbered) of the uppermost open frame members 11, 11′ areessentially smooth, uninterrupted and offer no visible evidence of theinternally hidden components latter-described. Thus, when viewed in thepositions of use (FIG. 12), the shelves 10, 10′ give the appearance ofan expensive high-end encapsulated shelf absent the relatively highercost thereof while retaining the excellent functionability and highaesthetics of encapsulated shelving.

Another vertically step-adjustable shelf or shelving assembly 10′″ isillustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 of the drawings and corresponds in allmaterial aspects but one to the shelf 10, namely, the shelf 10′″excludes the corresponding open inner lower frame member 31 whileincluding the upper outer open frame member 11′″, a piece of thermalglass or glass panel 50′″, and a pair of metal shelf brackets 70′″ eachhaving a vertical flange 72′ with a plurality of stake projectionopenings 71′″ therein, a pair of hooks 75′″ and a horizontal flange73′″. As is most evident from FIG. 15, the peripheral edge 51′″ of thetempered glass panel 50′″ is accurately located and sandwiched betweenthe flanges 18′″ of the inner open frame member 11′″ and the flange 73′″of each of the metal shelf brackets 70′″. The stake projections 25′″ ofeach of the vertical flanges 20′″ of the outer upper open frame member11′″ project through the stake projection openings 71′″ and are providedwith enlarged staked heads 60′″under heat and pressure, as heretoforedescribed to assemble the components in a rigid assembly suitable forsupporting products in the compartment C of the refrigerator R. However,since there are no stake projections 25′″ along the front or rear memberportions 16′″, 17′″, respectively, of the upper open frame member 11′″of the shelf 10′″, an appropriate bonding material or adhesive can beutilized in these areas to glue or bond an upper surface (unnumbered) ofthe tempered glass panel 50′″ directly to the underside of thehorizontal flanges 18′″ of the front and rear frame member portions16′″, 17′″, respectively.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the apparatus without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

1. A shelf assembly comprising at least one substantially open framemember having an inner peripheral edge defining an opening and a shelfpanel having an outer peripheral edge, said frame member includingopposite spaced substantially parallel frame portions each of asubstantially L-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration definedby a substantially horizontal flange and a substantially downwardlydirected vertical flange when the shelf assembly is located in aposition of use in which the shelf panel is substantially horizontal, apair of support brackets each of a substantially L-shaped transversecross-sectional configuration defined by a substantially horizontalflange and a substantially downwardly directed vertical flange in theshelf assembly position of use, said shelf panel outer peripheral edgebeing sandwiched between the horizontal flanges of the frame member andpair of support brackets, means for securing at least selected ones ofsaid frame member and support brackets flanges to each other outboard ofthe panel outer peripheral edge, at least one of said open frame memberand said pair of support brackets being formed of syntheticpolymeric/polymeric plastic material, and said securing means beingdefined by a plurality of inter-engaged integral unitary one-piece insitu molded stake projections formed of said syntheticpolymeric/copolymeric plastic material of said at least one open framemember received in stake projection openings of said pair of supportbrackets with the stake projections having stake heads securing saidselected flanges to each other.
 2. The shelf assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein said support brackets substantially horizontal flangesare in opposing substantially aligned relationship to each other.
 3. Theshelf assembly as defined in claim 1 including means for locating saidshelf panel with respect to said frame member.
 4. The shelf assembly asdefined in claim 1 including means for locating said shelf panel withrespect to said frame member, and said locating means are carried bysaid frame member flanges.
 5. The shelf assembly as defined in claim 1wherein said selected ones of said frame member and support bracketflanges are horizontal flanges.
 6. The shelf assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein said selected ones of said frame member and supportbracket flanges are vertical flanges.
 7. The shelf assembly as definedin claim 1 wherein said selected ones of said frame member and supportbracket flanges are horizontal flanges and vertical flanges.
 8. Theshelf assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame member has anoutermost surface, and said frame member outermost surface is devoid ofdiscernible stake heads.
 9. The shelf assembly as defined in claim 1including means for locating said shelf panel with respect to said framemember.
 10. The shelf assembly as defined in claim 1 including means forlocating said shelf panel with respect to said frame member, and saidlocating means are carried by said frame member flanges.
 11. The shelfassembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame member has anoutermost surface, and said frame member outermost surface is devoid ofdiscernible stake heads.
 12. The shelf assembly as defined in claim 3wherein said frame member has an outermost surface, and said framemember outermost surface is devoid of discernible stake heads.
 13. Theshelf assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame member has anoutermost surface, and said frame member outermost surface is devoid ofdiscernible stake heads.
 14. The shelf assembly as defined in claim 6wherein said frame member has an outermost surface, and said framemember outermost surface is devoid of discernible stake heads.
 15. Theshelf assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said frame member has anoutermost surface, and said frame member outermost surface is devoid ofdiscernible stake heads.
 16. The shelf assembly as defined in claim 1wherein said frame member is formed of said syntheticpolymeric/copolymeric plastic material, and said pair of supportbrackets are each metal.